“I think he is a fantastic player, he has been a big reason why, at United, we have won so many trophies over the last few years”

Wayne Rooney

He has missed out on seven major tournaments during his England career. Injury ruled him out of the reckoning for the 2002 World Cup. He was overlooked for Euro 2004, played one game in the 2006 World Cup and was an unused squad member in 2010.

England didn't qualify for Euro 2008 and he failed to make the final squad for Euro 2012 or last summer's World Cup in Brazil.

Carrick has lived in the shadows of midfield rivals Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who both went on to win more than 100 caps before retiring.

It is difficult to question the talents of either player considering their contributions to the cause down the years.

But current captain Wayne Rooney believes previous managers have made a huge mistake by ignoring Carrick for so long.

He reckons his United team-mate suffered because of the Gerrard and Lampard cartel and that bosses like Sven-Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello and Steve McClaren took the easy option by leaving out the midfielder.